A handy holiday guide to log cabins in the UK

A handy holiday guide to log cabins in the UK

For piling on the cosiness and really snuggling up, a cabin in the UK probably can’t be beaten. But that’s not the end of it – these sorts of stays also come engulfed in great wildernesses, so they’re a top pick for adventurers, surfers, swimmers, hikers and more. This guide runs through the features that make log cabins in the UK such an enticing prospect, along with some of the destinations where they are at their very best.

An example of a log cabin in the mountains

What are log cabins in the UK really like?

Ranging from moss-caked boltholes between the pines of Sherwood Forest to salt-lashed surfer shacks on the farms by Padstow, it’s clear that there’s a whole variety of different styles of cabins in the UK to choose from. In this section, we’ll take a look at some of the key features of these stays.

Compact and cosy

Most cabins in the UK aren’t a patch on cottages when it comes to size. Preferring to keep things tight-knit, they push down the square footage. That doesn’t mean you don’t get places with multiple bedrooms – some lettings of this sort even clock up 4 individual sleeping quarters. It does mean you can expect cosy nights in all snuggled up in a pint-sized lounge.

Log cabins in the UK with hot tubs

One feature that helps to elevate the humble country cabin to all new and luxurious heights is a hot tub. Not all stays will have one but those that do often try to make the most of it by placing the steaming bath in the garden or on an outdoor deck, so guests can really soak up the scenery that abounds all around.

Going off-track is common

A great joy of choosing a cabin in the UK is the adventure that comes with it. Unlike cottage rentals in little villages or conventional hotels in the city, these sorts of pads can be truly remote and secluded. They stud farms in the midst of the Scottish Highlands or spill out onto the lapping shores of Lake Windermere. And that’s only a couple of examples.

Winter comes to the UK countryside

Popular destinations for finding log cabins in the UK

Stoke that wanderlust by reading on for some of the most immersive and amazing spots to secure your log cabin in the UK this year.

Hit the trails of the Lake District

Whether you’re whizzing past the cruisers of Derwent Water on a bike or clambering up the final crags of Scafell Pike, there are plenty of moments of real adventure awaiting in the Lake District National Park. The area around Windermere is packed with enticing cottage stays, many with jaw-dropping views across to the ridges of Claife Heights and eerie Wray Castle.

Discover wonderful Yorkshire

It’s hardly a surprise that Yorkshire and this outdoors-orientated accommodation type go hand in hand. The vast cut-out of the North is home to more reserves and designated parks than you can shake a hotpot at – but don’t do that. Cabins in the vicinity of the North York Moors mean you can hike the heathery heaths and check off the Gothic wonders of medieval York city. Whoever said a staycation wasn’t intrepid enough?

A South West cabin in the UK by the beach

Clamber down from Cheddar Gorge and the lookouts of Glastonbury Tor and you’ll be faced with the wave-clattered coast of Somerset. From there all the way to Cornwall, a whole medley of log cabins in the UK offer an escape that’s tailored to lovers of the seaside. Wide bays like Bude and Croyde command the attention of surfers, while Carbis Bay and St Ives are ideal for summertime sunbathing sessions.

An example of a log cabin by a country roadside

Ways to secure cheap log cabins in the UK

Even though rates in log cabins are often less than classic cottages and home rentals, it’s still helpful to save as many pennies as you can on the booking process. That’s precisely where these 3 handy hints come in.

Be prepared and book early

The quest for cheap log cabins in the UK is one that should start early. That’s because these quirky accommodations often sell out in a jiffy. It’s especially true if you’re keen to bag a cabana by the beach come the summer, so be careful to score your Somerset or Dorset digs well in advance of June.

Log cabins in the UK can be cosy and affordable in winter

The Swiss and the Austrians have been extolling the virtues of a hearty log cabin for the winter for centuries. It might be about time the Brits followed suit, especially considering that rates for the months between November and April – excluding Christmas, New Year and Easter – are some of the lowest of the whole calendar.

Forgo some creature comforts

If you’re struggling to find a cabin in the UK that fits your budget, it could be worth filtering out the options with up-market features like hot tubs and real-wood fires. They can crank up the price and you might not need all those luxuries to get back to nature in the way you want.